Sport Squad HX40 Electric Powered Air Hockey Table Buying Guide

Air hockey is one of the most enjoyable table sports. The combination of fast-paced, reflex dependent action along with the competitive, one-on-one nature of the game make it a fan favorite when it comes to arcade games. With the market for air hockey tables being bigger than ever, it is the easiest it has ever been to find an affordable table that will fit perfectly into your setup.

Introduction

The way an air hockey table works is not necessarily complicated, there is usually one or multiple fans beneath the table, and there are many small, evenly spaced holes across the playing surface of the table. This creates a small cushion of air over which the puck can glide, somewhat reminiscent of the ice in actual ice hockey.

Sport Squad HX40 Electric Powered Air Hockey Table Front

Air hockey as a sport has been expanding steadily over the past 40 years. Air hockey was originally developed in the early 1970s by employees at a billiards company, and it has come a long way since then.

Lurking for an enticing game but have limited space and budget constraints? Relieve yourself as Sport Squad has designed an air hockey table top keeping such requirements in consideration. The table top is crafted from MDF material which is durable and withstands any rough plays. It has an electric motor fan that has a powerful throw for a gliding surface.

It features two pucks and two strikers along with a manual sliding scoring system which makes it easier to record scores. It is easy to assemble and you can simply put it on a table or any other surface of your choice, even the floor and you are good to play. It is extremely convenient to store and play, especially if you are looking for a game that is unique from the usual board games. You can put it in your home, office or any other place you wish to play with your family and peers.

Whether you want to recapture the childhood joy of visiting the arcade and playing some air hockey with your best friend, or you are a professional player who wants a high quality table, there are products available to cover your every need.

Choosing the right air hockey table may seem tricky at first, but it is actually simple once you understand a few key aspects and how they tie into the type of setup you would like to have and how well they would correspond to your budget.

Sports Squad HX40 Electric Powered Air Hockey Table Features

  • Simple assembly process
  • High-output fan
  • Manual score counters
  • Two mallets
  • Two pucks
  • 20 x 40 x 5 inches

Sport Squad HX40 Electric Powered Air Hockey Table Specs

Manufacturer

Sport Squad

Product Dimensions

40x 20 x 5 inches

Assembled Product Weight

15lb

Sport Squad HX40 Electric Powered Air Hockey Table Rating by Features

Easy to assemble

4.7 out of 5

Sturdiness

4.2 out of 5

Value for money

4.2 out of 5

What We Liked and Disliked About Sports Squad HX40 Electric Powered Air Hockey Table

Pros

  • Ultra smooth surface
  • Perfect amount of air
  • It delivers excellent gaming experience
  • It is of perfect size
  • Accessories for gaming are included
  • Can be played on any surface including floor
  • 120v powered motor for fast paced play

Cons

  • High priced
  • Might not be sturdy
  • Not meant for intense game sessions

About the Product

The Sport Squad HX40 is an affordable beginner level air hockey table recommended primarily for use by children. The table is 40 inches long, so it is on the smaller end of the spectrum and it does not have legs, so it is recommended for use on a tabletop or a non-carpeted floor (the motor may overheat when used on a carpeted floor).

The build quality is not the best part of this model, as we had a few hiccups with the motor, only time will tell whether these issues will be sorted out on their own eventually, or they are the symptoms of an upcoming motor failure. However, the motor is powerful enough to provide a decent amount of air cushioning for the puck, especially considering the smaller size of the table.

The table comes with a 2 inch puck. Another good aspect to the table is that it is rather durable, so a few rough play sessions won’t result in a broken air hockey table and a waste of money. It also features manual score counters above the goals so you can keep track of the game without having to commit the score to memory.

Sport Squad HX40 Electric Powered Air Hockey Table Pucks and Paddles on White Background

The area where this model of air hockey table truly shines is in its very streamlined assembly process. Many air hockey tables have complex assembly which can result in headaches and a lot of wasted time, but on this model, all that you have to do is screw the goals in place and you are ready to play!

1. Simple Assembly Process

The Sport Squad HX40 Electric Powered Air Hockey Table is the ideal table for children and beginners in the air hockey world. It comes with many enticing features that make it super easy to use; one of these is its infamously simple assembly process. Usually, air hockey tables are a nuisance to put together as they have many different parts and this can be very confusing for beginners to figure out. With the Sport Squad HX40 Electric Powered Air Hockey Table, however, you never have to worry about this because all you really need to do is screw in the goals and you’re good to go!

Part of the reason why the Sport Squad HX40 Electric Powered Air Hockey Table has such a simple assembly process is because it has a very compact design and no legs. It's only about 40 inches long and you’ll have to put it on a countertop or table to play but it has a very durable build. All of this means that the table is on the affordable end of the spectrum; so if you are only dipping your toe in the world of air hockey to figure out whether you really like it or not, this is the perfect table for you!

2. High-Output Fan

Every air hockey table has small holes on its surface from which the fans underneath the surface push out air to make the puck move easily and smoothly across the table. The Sport Squad HX40 Electric Powered Air Hockey Table is no different and it has a high-output fan which allows the 2-inch puck to glide smoothly over the table. However, the fan is not nearly as effective as the fans of most tournament-grade tables since the pressure of the air is insufficient to allow the mallets to float on the table. Fortunately, though, it is strong enough to allow the puck to float across the table smoothly.

Additionally, the motor comes with some overheating issues, especially if you place it on a carpeted top. So while it may not be a top-of-the-line motor, the quality is good enough and is only reasonable given the price point and the small size of the table. Therefore, while this table is not well-suited for experts and seasoned players, it is still ideal for use by beginners and children as they are not entirely concerned with the quality of the components of the table but more so with its price and the durability.

3. Manual Score Counters

One of the most convenient and well-loved aspects of this table is that it allows players to keep a manual score count of the game. The manual score counter basically allows players to keep track of their goals as they play to see which player wins the game. This is one feature that comes in handy for any game of air hockey as it means that players will not have to memorize the score as they play, which as we all know becomes incredibly difficult to keep track of (and open to blatant cheating!). 

Although the Sport Squad HX40 Electric Powered Air Hockey Table may not be anywhere near the fantasies of a professional player, it is compact, durable and comes equipped with many features and accessories that make it perfectly well-suited for the needs of all children, beginners and those who intend to play air hockey for recreational purposes. This guide will come in handy for all buyers interested in this table to assess the importance of these three main features in an air hockey table.

Product Results

This table truly shines if you have children who really enjoy air hockey. The small size makes it rather inconvenient for adults to use. The price is reasonable and the build quality is better than the price would suggest. We purposefully put it through a few rough games and the table came out on top every time.

The only part of the table that seems lacking in build quality is the motor, it overheats easily if the table is placed on a bed or a carpeted area and generally seems to have some issues getting started before some game sessions. By the time of this review, our model has not yet died, but it does not inspire confidence to see a motor have so many hiccups.

The fan is not powerful enough to make the mallets float, so there is somewhat more friction than you will be used to on a tournament-level table, but the puck floats relatively well, and when you take into account the small size of the table itself, the air cushioning is effective.

Sport Squad HX40 Electric Powered Air Hockey Table

Out Rating

4.6 out of 5

What Others Say

We also scoured customer testimonials and cross-referenced them amongst each other to find some of the most common criticisms and common praise for this product. The following is compiled from these testimonials.

A very commonly praised aspect of the product is the ease of assembly, the table essentially comes pre-assembled and all that must be put on is the goals, this makes for a good Christmas or birthday present as the assembly process won’t take long and you will have less of a risk of your child seeing you assembling their gift.

The most common complaint with this model of table is the motor, depending on your table, your motor can work for as long as several years to several days, which is quite frankly astonishing, even given the lower price level of this model. It is somewhat mind-boggling that the air hockey table itself is built very strongly but the motor is very finicky and unreliable.

Finally, most customers purchased this product as a gift for their children, as this table is the ideal size for younger players and strikes a marginally good balance between quality and price.

Buying Info

The list price for the HX40 is just under $80, which is a very reasonable price for an air hockey table, considering the higher end models can go for up to $1000 or even higher. At the time of this review, this model of table was discounted by 13% with an actual price of $70. The shipping weight is just over 15 pounds.

Verdict

In conclusion, the HX40 is an excellent table for children, it is set back by its unreliable motor, but the overall build quality and durability is good enough for some rough play and the size is ideal for younger children. The best selling point is the relatively low price, after all, who wouldn’t want an air hockey table for less than $100?

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